[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 47 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12175-12176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4812]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-05-301]


United States Standards for Grades of Strawberries

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the Department of 
Agriculture, is soliciting comments on a proposal to revise the United 
States Standards for Grades of Strawberries. AMS has received a 
petition from the California Strawberry Commission (CSC), requesting 
that the current standards be modified to allow percentages be 
determined on the basis of count and not volume. Additionally, AMS is 
seeking comments regarding any other revisions that may be necessary to 
better serve the industry.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 10, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
the Standardization Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 1661 South Building, Stop 
0240, Washington, DC 20250-0240; Fax (202) 720-8871, E-mail 
[email protected]. Comments should make reference to the dates 
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made 
available for public inspection in the above office during regular 
business hours. The United States Standards for Grades of Strawberries 
are available either through the address cited above or by accessing 
the Fresh Products Branch Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Priester, at the above 
address

[[Page 12176]]

or call (202) 720-2185, E-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, directs and authorizes 
the Secretary of Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of 
quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and 
demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices * * *.'' AMS is committed to 
carrying out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing 
of agricultural commodities and makes copies of official standards 
available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Fruits and Vegetables not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or 
U.S. Import Requirements, no longer appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations, but are maintained by USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs.
    AMS is proposing to revise the voluntary United States Standards 
for Grades of Strawberries using procedures that appear in Part 36 
Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR Part 36). These 
standards were last revised in 1965.

Background

    AMS received a petition from the CSC requesting a revision to the 
United States Standards for Grades of Strawberries. The standards are 
established under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 
1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627). The petitioner represents more than 700 
strawberry growers, shippers, and processors.
    The petitioner is requesting that USDA revise the standards to 
allow that percentages be determined on the basis of count and not 
volume. Currently the standards state that the percentages of defects 
will be determined on the basis of volume. The volume is determined by 
counting the berries in a sample, and then dividing the total number of 
berries into 100 percent. The resulting number will be the percentage 
by volume of the average size berry in the sample. For example, in a 
sample that has 25 berries the average size berry will be equal to 4 
percent with smaller berries representing less and larger berries 
representing more of the percentage by volume in the sample. Industry 
believes determining percentages by count will simplify tolerance 
determination.
    Prior to undertaking detailed work to develop a proposed revision 
to the standard, AMS is soliciting comments on the petition submitted 
to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Strawberries.
    This notice provides for a 60-day comment period for interested 
parties to comment on changes to the standards. Should AMS conclude 
that revisions are needed, the Agency will develop a proposed revised 
standard that will be published in the Federal Register with a request 
for comments in accordance with 7 CFR Part 36.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: March 7, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-4812 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P